Waist.



No. 799,440. "PATEN'I'EDSBPT. 12, 1905. L. s. BIGGAR.

I WAIST.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1904..

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UNITE STATES PgENT OFFICE.

WAIST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed July '7, 1904. Serial No. 215,635

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LILLIAN S. BIGGAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Waists, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corset-waists with elastic hipportions of special arrangement with regard to the human anatomy to giveease of movement of the various organs and at the same time permit ofpreserving and developing the-form of the wearer.

. A further object of the invention is to provide in a corset-waistelastic portions in combination with elastic strings adapted to beadjusted to makeaneat and attractive figure,

according to the size and condition of the wearer. The strings areparticularly advantageous when the corset is worn by girls of tenderyears or, in other words, beginners, as it allows of ready adjustmentfor comfort and ease, and even though the waist be loose the body isprotected against the skirt-band and the form is developed.

By placing the hip portions in the corsetwaist, as herein indicated, thewaist being elastic like the skin and muscles, prevents the muscles frombecoming weakened from disuse, and hence health and form are preservedand at. the same time the wearer enjoys all the advantages incident tothe wearing of corsets.

A further object of the invention is to provide straps to support theabdomen and an auxiliary support to he used in combination with thestraps, either of which may be employed independently or both together,ac. cording to the condition and size of the wearer.

Many other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa side elevation of a corset-waist made inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.Fig. 31s a front view of the corset-waist open. Fig. 4 1s a sideelevation of a modification of my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail rearelevation showing a modified means of connecting the corset at the rear.

1 and 2 represent the members of my improved corset-waist, laced in thefront and rear by elastic laces 3 and 4, engaging. eyes or hooks 3 andat. As each member is substantially alike I will describe but one. The

central part 6 of the member extends downgarters.

wardly to approximately a point, and the front and rear parts 7 and 8are also extended, but spaced from the part 6. This spacing forms a gorein which is inserted the front and rear 1 elastic hip portions 9 and 10.The lower edges of the hip portions are out upwardly to fit the outlineof the hips and the abdomen, while the part 6 is extended to fit wellover the hip. The elastic portions are reinforced where they arestitched to the waist by a rein forcing-strip 11, and it is at thisstrip that the elastics are sewed. The elastic is cut on a bias, whichgives an upward pressure at the lower part of a prominent abdomen. Thepoints of the hip portions extend upwardly about half way up the waistpast the waist-line, which permits the muscles of the abdomen to befreewhile a person-is standing or sitting. The tension of the elasticportion is such that while the organs are free to perform their naturalfunctions the figure is maintained. This is true because the corsetwaistyields and does not bind the muscles.

Following the front edge of the elastic portion 9 and extending up therear and top of the member isa bracing-strap 13, which serves tostrengthen the waist, and it tends to maintain the shape of the garment.To the lower ends of these straps are attached tabs 14,provided withsuitableeyelets, to which may be secured an auxiliary abdominal supportor Shoulder-straps 15 have one end continued from the straps 13 andtheir other ends fastened to the top of the adjacent waist member. Theshoulder-braces are crossed and cause the waist to set nicely and giveease and comfort to the wearer. They absolutely prevent the waistdropping, and when the wearer bends over the elastic gives sufficientlyto prevent the binding of the muscles. These straps support the clothingWithout pressing or flattening the bust and may be adjusted to suit thewearer. An elastic support 17 is fastened to the rear of the frontelastic portion 9 and is passed undera keeper 18. The supporting strapextends downwardly to form a support for the lower portion of theabdomen. The strap of one member is provided with a buckle 19, while thecompanion strap on the other member is designed to engage the buckle andform a seat or pocket for the abdomen to rest in.

It frequently happens that women having unusually large abdomens requiremore than what may be termed an ordinary support, and to supplement thisI have provided an auxiliary support 20. This support consists of apiece of rubber tubing having one end tied to the tab 14 and itsopposite end tied to a similar tab 21, located at the lower edge of themember between the side and rear. Each member will have a section oftubing, and by tying it obviously adjustment and comfort can readily beobtained. In use the tubes are passed between the limbs and bear closerelation to the pit of the abdomen in the front and fit nicely over thehips at the rear. By making this support of rubber it prevents chafingand allows of it being cleaned. Furthermore, its yielding propertieswill permit of free movement without binding when leaning over. Such asupport also prevents the waist working up toward the shoulders, andthis function, coupled with the shoulderstraps, insures the position ofthe waist maintaining its proper position on the wearer.

Under ordinary circumstances the supporting-straps 17 17 will be quitesufficient to support the abdomen; but in unusual cases both supportsmay be required. Then,again,there are certain kinds of ailments whichwould preclude using one or the other of the supports and where onewould be superior to the other. Under these conditions I would useeither the straps 17 17 or the tubes, according to the circumstances.

A corset-waist constructed in accordance with my invention is extremelysimple and possesses many pertinent advantages, paramount of which isthatthe stiffness incidentto corsets now in use is dispensed with, whichpermits the muscles to perform their natural duty. It is quite wellknown that when a fleshy person wearing stiff corsets sits down theviscera or contents of the body rise, which makes the corsetconsiderably tighter than when the person isin an erect position. Thishas proven decidedly unhealthy in many cases,because of the crowdedcondition of the flesh the organs adjacent thereto were compressed. andhence prevented performing their natural duties, causing in many casesdisease, death, and insanity.

My improved corsetwaist also possesses another important result in whichit allows of natural respiration for the reason that the elasticportions and strings are located in each instance in line with themuscles and that the latter may not be bound.

The front of the corset-waist is shaped to conform to the outline of theabdomen and does not touch the chest, and as the straps 17 17 aresecured at a point higher up than where they are guided at their lowestposition obviously the corset-waist may be adjusted to lit the abdomennicely. If the abdomen is abnormal, the straps 17 can be let out andadjusted to fit when the corset-waist is put on, and as the hip portionsare elastic and the strings also elastic the waist can be fitted snuglyto the person.

The pressure on the body by the use of my corset-waist is reduced to aminimum, and while this is true the figure and form of the wearer arenot affected These essentials are both attractive and healthy.

The straps 17, it will be noted, are fastened at such a point that theyextend across the front hip portion, which with said portion forms adouble support for the abdomen.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification of my invention. In thisconstruction I dispense with the rear hip portion, which under certainconditions may be advantageous.

The shape of the front or the lower part of the members may be altered,if desired, but I prefer the outline as herein indicated.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the rear elastic lacing is dispensedwith and a series of permanently-fixed elastic straps 28 aresubstituted. By using the elastic strap it is unnecessary to provide thehooks and eyelets, so that the back presents asmooth surface when thecorset is on the wearer.

WVhat I claim as new is 1. A corset-waist comprising a pair of members,each member provided with an elastic hip portion, elastic strapsconnected to each member above the bottom thereof approximately midwayof the elastic hip portion, keepers at or near the lower front portionof the members and on a line below the securing-point of the strap,means fastening the straps together to form an additional support, andmeans elastically securing the members together.

2. A corset-waist comprisinga pairof members turned in at the lowerfront ends to form a pocket for the stomach, each member provided withan elastic hip portion, elastic straps connected to each member abovethe bottom thereof approximately midway of the elastic hip portions,keepers at or near the lower front portion of the members and on a linebelow the securing-point of the strap, means fastening the strapstogether to form an additional support and to press the turned-in lowerfront ends, and means securing the members together.

3. A corset comprising a pair of members, each member provided with anelastic hip portion, elastic lacings connecting the front of themembers, elastic lacing connecting the members at the rear, and a pairof elastic shoulder-straps, each strap having its opposite ends fastenedto the two members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of Hay,1904.

LILLIAN S. BIGGAR.

Witnesses R. P. BUsI-I, J. W. PRESTON.

